Refrigerator with split type shelves

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator with split type shelves comprises: a refrigerator body having a storage space; doors disposed on a front surface of the refrigerator body, and configured to open and close the storage space; first shelves installed at an inner side of the storage space, and accommodating storage items thereon; and a shelf assembly disposed between the first shelves and the door, and installed so as to be movable with respect to the refrigerator body such that front surfaces of the first shelves are exposed to a front surface of the refrigerator body.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in priorityKorean Application No 10-2009-0097890, filed on Oct. 14, 2009 which areherein expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a refrigerator with split type shelves,and particularly, to a refrigerator with split type shelves capable ofeffectively utilizing an inner space of the refrigerator.

2. Background of the Invention

A refrigerator serves to store food items such as meat, fish,vegetables, fruits, and beverages with a fresh state.

Generally, the refrigerator comprises a refrigerator body having storagespaces such as a freezing chamber, a refrigerating chamber, and avegetable chamber; a refrigerating cycle device disposed inside therefrigerator body, and configured to maintain temperatures of thestorage spaces as preset temperatures; and doors disposed at one side ofthe refrigerator body, and configured to open and close the storagespaces.

In order to effectively utilize a space inside the refrigerator, aplurality of shelves are mounted to a cooling space of the refrigeratorso as to accommodate storage items thereon. Recently, being proposed arevarious techniques for effectively storing a larger amount of storageitems in a limited volume defined by the refrigerator body. Sometechniques for spatial utilization are to reduce spaces rather than astorage space, e.g., the refrigerating cycle device. Other techniquesare to more efficiently store food items in a limited active volume.

Implementation of the aforementioned shelves corresponds to the lattercase, and is efficient in that a space inside the refrigerator isdivided into a plurality of spaces for enhanced spatial utilization.However, when the refrigerator is a large capacity type of refrigerator,a depth of the shelves in back and forth directions (i.e., a lengthextending from a front surface of the refrigerator to a rear surface) isincreased. This may cause a difficulty in accommodating food items inthe space of the refrigerator, or in taking the food items out of thespace. These inconveniences may become severe in case of a refrigeratorhaving a narrow width in right and left directions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide arefrigerator capable of easily accommodating storage items at an innerspace of the refrigerator, or easily taking the storage items out of theinner space.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the present invention, as embodied and broadly described arefrigerator with split type shelves, comprising: a refrigerator bodyhaving a storage space; doors disposed on a front surface of therefrigerator body, and configured to open and close the storage space;first shelves installed at an inner side of the storage space, andaccommodating storage items thereon; and a shelf assembly disposedbetween the first shelves and the door, and installed so as to bemovable with respect to the refrigerator body so that front surfaces ofthe first shelves can be exposed to a front surface of the refrigeratorbody.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda refrigerator with split type shelves, comprising: a refrigerator bodyhaving a storage space; doors disposed on a front surface of therefrigerator body, and configured to open and close the storage space;first shelves installed at an inner side of the storage space, andaccommodating storage items thereon; and a shelf assembly disposedbetween the first shelves and the door, and installed so as to beslidable and rotatable with respect to the refrigerator body.

In the present invention, a space inside the refrigerator may be dividedinto a plurality of spaces horizontally partitioned from each other by aplurality of shelves, not by one shelf, and shelves adjacent to the doormay be installed so as to be movable. This may enhance accessibility tothe space inside the refrigerator. That is, in the present invention, ashelf may be divided into two or more shelves in back and forthdirections of the refrigerator body, and shelves disposed at the doorside may be movably installed to enhance accessibility to the shelvesdisposed inside the refrigerator. Once the shelf assembly is moved to afront surface of the refrigerator body, front surfaces of the firstshelves disposed inside the refrigerator may be exposed to a frontsurface of the refrigerator body. This may allow a user to easilyaccommodate food items in the space inside the refrigerator, or toeasily take the food items out of the space.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the present invention when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to a first isembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state that a door has been openedaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state that a shelf assembly hasbeen opened according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an assembly structure ofthe shelf assembly according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 5A to 5C are planar views showing the operation of therefrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, which shows a refrigeratoraccording to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a planar view showing the operation of the refrigeratoraccording to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3, which shows a refrigeratoraccording to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 9A and 9B are planar views showing the operation of a refrigeratoraccording to a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Description will now be given in detail of the present invention, withreference to the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a refrigerator according to thepresent invention will be explained in more detail with reference to theattached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to a firstembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator 100 is a general double-door typeof refrigerator. The refrigerator 100 comprises a refrigerator bodyhaving a storage space therein; and a freezing chamber side door 104 anda refrigerating chamber side door 106 each hinge-coupled to a frontsurface of the refrigerator body 102, and configured to open and closethe storage space while being rotated. Here, the refrigerator of thepresent invention is not limited to the double-door type ofrefrigerator, but may be applied to any type of refrigerator havingdoors hinge-coupled to a refrigerator body and configured to be openedand closed.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state that a door has been openedaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, a rear surface of the freezing chamber side door104 has a flat structure having no protrusions, whereas a rear surfaceof the refrigerating chamber door 106 has a plurality of door baskets106 a and 106 b disposed in a vertical direction. And, a plurality ofshelves 120 are disposed in the refrigerating chamber so as to dividethe refrigerating chamber into a plurality of spaces in a verticaldirection. Furthermore, a plurality of drawer-type baskets 122 havingdifferent sizes are provided below the shelves 120.

Since the freezing chamber side door 104 is not provided with shelves,etc. differently from the conventional art, it needs smaller force toopen or close the door. Furthermore, since the freezing chamber sidedoor 104 does not have food items, etc. accommodated therein, the fooditems are prevented from falling down while the door 104 is opened andclosed. The rear surface of the freezing chamber side door 104 has aflat structure having no protrusions. However, the present invention isnot limited to this. More concretely, the rear surface of the freezingchamber side door 104 may be protruding toward an inner side of therefrigerator body.

A shelf assembly including a fixing frame and second shelves isinstalled on a front surface of the freezing chamber. The fixing frame110 has a rectangular shape, and is provided with a plurality of secondshelves 112 a, 112 b, 112 c and 112 d detachably mounted therein in avertical direction. Each of the second shelves is provided with walls atthe periphery thereof, thereby being implemented in the form of abasket. Furthermore, since intervals between the second shelves are setto be different from each other, items having different heights may bestored on the second shelves.

Especially, a pair of supporting rods 114 are installed on rear uppersides of the two second shelves 112 c and 112 d disposed at a lowerside. This may prevent items stored on the second shelves from fallingdown while the second shelves are moved.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state that the shelf assembly hasbeen opened towards a front surface of the refrigerator body.

Referring to FIG. 3, a plurality of first shelves 130, 140 and 150 aredetachably mounted to an inner wall of the freezing chamber at an innerside of the shelf assembly. Supporting walls 132 and 152 are formed onfront surfaces of the upper and lower first shelves 130 and 150, therebypreventing food items accommodated on the first shelves from beingdetached from the first shelves. And, the supporting walls and the firstshelves are formed of transparent materials, thereby allowing a user toeasily check food items accommodated on the first shelves.

A bottom surface of the first shelf and a bottom surface of the secondshelf are arranged so as to have the same height. However, the presentinvention is not limited to this. That is, the bottom surface of thefirst shelf and the bottom surface of the second shelf are arranged soas to have different heights from each other.

The shelf assembly is mounted to the refrigerator body so as to beslidable and rotatable. More concretely, upper and lower surfaces of thefixing frame 110 of the shelf assembly serve as a body-fixed portion,and right and left surfaces thereof serve as a shelf fixing portion forfixing the second shelves. The body-fixed portion is rotatably mountedto a pair of rails 160 fixedly installed to the refrigerator body 102.

One end of the fixing frame 110 of the shelf assembly is rotatablymounted to the rails 160. However, the present invention is not limitedto this. More concretely, a central portion of the shelf assembly, or apart between the central portion and an end portion may be rotatablycoupled to the rails 160.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an assembly structure ofthe shelf assembly according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 4, hinge coupling holes 110 a are formed at upper andlower portions of the fixing frame 110. The hinge coupling holes 110 aare hinge-coupled to end portions of sliders 162 of the rails 160 bybolts 166. The slider 162 of one rail 160 is slidably coupled to insideof a guide 164, and the guide 164 is fixed to a bottom side of an uppersurface of the refrigerator body.

The other rail 160 is fixed to a supporting portion 102 a protrudingfrom a lower side wall of the refrigerator body. Under theseconfigurations, while the sliders perform a sliding motion in theguides, the shelf assembly performs a sliding motion in back and forthdirections of the refrigerator body, and is rotated centering around thehinge coupling holes.

FIGS. 5A to 5C are planar views showing a movable state of the shelfassembly.

Referring to FIG. 5A, the first shelf 130 occupies about ⅔ of ahorizontal sectional surface of the freezing chamber, whereas the secondshelf 112 a occupies the rest ⅓. FIG. 5A shows a state that the shelfassembly is arranged between the door and the first shelf. Under thisstate, even if the door is opened, the second shelf disposed in front ofthe first shelf, and items accommodated in the second shelf serve as acool air shielding wall. Accordingly, cool air loss occurring from anupper space of the first shelf may be prevented.

It is preferable to store frequently used items on the second shelves,whereas it is preferable to store items having a low usage frequency onthe first shelves. In case of a general usage, the user may accommodatefrequently used items in the second shelves, or take the frequently useditems out of the second shelves by merely opening the door.

In order to accommodate items into the first shelves or take the itemsout of the first shelves, as shown in FIG. 5B, the shelf assembly ispulled towards a front surface of the door. As a result, the slider 162is protruding from the guide 164, and the shelf assembly is protrudingtowards a front surface of the refrigerator body. Under this state, oncethe right side of the shelf assembly is pulled out, the shelf assemblyis clockwise rotated as shown in FIG. 5C. At the same time, frontsurfaces of the first shelves expose the front surface of therefrigerator body. Under this state, the user is easily accessible tothe first shelves, thereby easily accommodating items into the firstshelves or taking the items out of the first shelves.

Furthermore, since the door has no baskets on its rear surface, the doormay have a light weight. This may allow the door to be easily opened,and may prevent falling down of items inside the refrigerator due toimpacts occurring when the door is opened, or damages of therefrigerator.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a refrigerator according to asecond embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numeralsas those of the first embodiment will be given to the same parts asthose of the first embodiment, and the same explanations will beomitted.

The second embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is different from the firstembodiment in that the shelf assembly is rotatably mounted to therefrigerator body. That is, the fixing frame 110 is hinge-coupledbetween a bottom portion of an upper surface of the refrigerator bodyand the supporting portion 102 a. Accordingly, the fixing frame 110 doesnot perform a sliding motion implemented in the first embodiment. As aresult, the refrigerator of the second embodiment has a simplerconfiguration than that of the first embodiment. However, when thesecond shelves have a deep depth in back and forth directions of therefrigerator body, corners of the second shelves being rotated mayinterfered with inner walls of the refrigerator body.

In order to prevent the interference, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,portions near vertexes of second shelves 212 a, 212 b, 212 c and 212 dare formed in circular arc shapes. In this case, first shelves 230, 240and 250 facing the second shelves are formed to have complementaryshapes to the second shelves. More concretely, when the first shelvesare formed in straight lines, spaces formed between the first shelvesand the second shelves are not utilizable. Accordingly, the respectivefirst shelves 230, 240 and 250, and one side ends of supporting walls232 and 252 positioned at the ends of the first shelves are formed incircular arc shapes.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a refrigerator according to a third embodimentof the present invention. The third embodiment is similar to the secondembodiment, but is different from the second embodiment in that theshelf assembly is coupled to the refrigerator body. Accordingly, thesame reference numerals as those of the second embodiment will be givento the same parts as those of the second embodiment, and the sameexplanations will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 8, the shelf assembly and the refrigerator body arecoupled to each other by a link member 260. More concretely, the linkmember 260 has a bar shape extending in a length direction, and has bothends hinge-coupled to the refrigerator body and the fixing frame,respectively. That is, the fixing frame is double hinge-coupled to therefrigerator body. In the third embodiment, the shelf assembly isprotruding towards the front surface of the refrigerator body by alength of the link member 260, thereby enhancing accessibility to thefirst shelved disposed in the refrigerator.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are planar views showing a rotation process of the shelfassembly according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9A, the fixing frame is counterclockwise rotated atthe right end of the link member 260, whereas the fixing frame isclockwise rotated at the left end of the link member 260. This may causethe shelf assembly to be opened in a protruding state towards the frontsurface of the refrigerator body as shown in FIG. 5B.

Under this state, once the shelf assembly is more rotated in a clockwisedirection, the protruding length of the shelf assembly is increased.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and arenot to be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The presentteachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Thisdescription is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scopeof the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will beapparent to those skilled in the art. The features, structures, methods,and other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described hereinmay be combined in various ways to obtain additional and/or alternativeexemplary embodiments.

As the present features may be embodied in several forms withoutdeparting from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understoodthat the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of thedetails of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, butrather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in theappended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fallwithin the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metesand bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

1. A refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator body having a storagespace; doors disposed on a front surface of the refrigerator body, andconfigured to open and close the storage space; one or more firstshelves installed at an inner side of the storage space, andaccommodating storage items thereon; and a shelf assembly disposedbetween the first shelves and the door, and installed so as to bemovable with respect to the refrigerator body such that front surfacesof the first shelves are exposed to a front surface of the refrigeratorbody.
 2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the shelf assembly isrotatably installed with respect to the refrigerator body.
 3. Therefrigerator of claim 2, wherein one end of the shelf assembly isrotatably installed with respect to the refrigerator body.
 4. Therefrigerator of claim 2, wherein a central portion of the shelf assemblyis rotatably installed with respect to the refrigerator body.
 5. Therefrigerator of claim 1, wherein the shelf assembly is installed so asto be slidable and rotatable with respect to the refrigerator body. 6.The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the shelf assembly comprises: oneor more second shelves disposed between the door and the first shelves;and a fixing frame to which the second shelves are fixed.
 7. Therefrigerator of claim 6, wherein the fixing frame comprises: a shelffixing portion to which the second shelves are fixed; and a body-fixedportion coupled to the refrigerator body.
 8. The refrigerator of claim7, wherein a plurality of rails slidably mounted to the refrigeratorbody are further included, and wherein the body-fixed portion of thefixing frame is hinge-coupled to the rails.
 9. The refrigerator of claim7, wherein the body-fixed portion is rotatably coupled to therefrigerator body.
 10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein at least oneend of the second shelve has a circular arc shape when viewed from anupper side of the refrigerator.
 11. The refrigerator of claim 10,wherein the first shelves facing the second shelves are formed to havecomplementary shapes to the second shelves.
 12. The refrigerator ofclaim 6, wherein the second shelve is implemented in the form of abasket.
 13. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein an inner side surfaceof the door is not protruding towards inside of the storage space. 14.The refrigerator of claim 7, further comprising a link member havingboth ends hinge-coupled to the shelf assembly and the refrigerator body,respectively.
 15. A refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator body havinga storage space; doors disposed on a front surface of the refrigeratorbody, and configured to open and close the storage space; first shelvesinstalled at an inner side of the storage space, and accommodatingstorage items thereon; and a shelf assembly disposed between the firstshelves and the door, and installed so as to be slidable and rotatablewith respect to the refrigerator body.
 16. The refrigerator of claim 15,wherein the shelf assembly comprises: one or more second shelvesdisposed between the door and the first shelves; and a fixing frame towhich the second shelves are fixed.
 17. The refrigerator of claim 16,wherein the fixing frame comprises: a shelf fixing portion to which thesecond shelves are fixed; and a body-fixed portion coupled to therefrigerator body.
 18. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein a pluralityof rails slidably mounted to the refrigerator body are further included,and wherein the body-fixed portion of the fixing frame is hinge-coupledto the rails.
 19. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein the body-fixedportion is rotatably coupled to the refrigerator body.
 20. Therefrigerator of claim 16, wherein the second shelve is implemented inthe form of a basket.